Corgi Gets Fired from Helen Mirren's Play

The 7-year-old Corgi was fired from London's West End production of The Audience, which stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, for failing to obey the actress on stage. During a scene in which the Corgi is supposed to run across the stage after being called by Mirren, 67, Lizzy stayed in the wings. The misfire happened in 16 preview performances, prompting the casting change.

Taking Lizzy's place? A 5-year-old Corgi named Coco.

"I think she decided she didn't want to be an actress any more," the play's director, Stephen Daldry, joked to The Telegraph. "She decided to retire from the British stage. Now she's back home, a resting actress, resting by the fire."

But despite the temporary setback, The Audience is actually considering adding to its animal cast, which also features another 5-year-old Corgi named Rocky. A dapple grey pony named Emily will soon make her debut in a new scene being written by the play's scribe, Peter Morgan.